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Storm hopes Bellamy will stay for love

Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith with the premiership trophy. The club hopes Bellamy will sign a new deal. Photo: Getty Images

Melbourne Storm is counting on Craig Bellamy choosing love over money following St George Illawarra's massive bid to secure him.

The Dragons are believed to have tabled Bellamy, who is out of contract at the end of the 2014 season, an offer worth $6 million over five years.

The mastermind of the 2012 premiership, Bellamy has said he's "50-50" about the possibility of leaving the club where he started his senior coaching career in 2003 and he plans to make a decision on what's likely to be his final coaching contract this month.

Gauci said that with two clubs vying for him the chances of keeping Bellamy were also 50-50, but he hoped that the coach's strong emotional ties to the club would prove too strong.

Bellamy steered the club back to the 2012 title after the ignominy of losing the 2007 and 2009 titles for salary cap cheating. He has a close bond with his players, especially superstars Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.

Ryan Hoffman and Brett Finch both returned from England to play again under their mentor.

"We'd like to think that the emotional ties that he has to the club and its players will weigh in his thoughts," Gauci said.

"If this is to be his last contract (we hope) that he'll consider where he'd like to finish his coaching days. We'd like to think that weighs favourably our way as well."

Gauci said the Storm wasn't surprised by the reported size of the Dragons' offer given Bellamy's well-proven ability and standing in the game.

The Storm plans to do all it could to accommodate him in terms of money and contract length, with the 54-year-old feeling this deal could be his last.

"We're very keen to work with Craig's requirements to keep him," Gauci said. "He has the role for as long as he wants as long as I'm in the chair."

The Storm resumes training in Melbourne on Thursday following a 10-day break, with representative players, skipper Smith and Cooper Cronk, to make their first official appearances.

Slater has been granted leave to attend his sister's wedding.

Meanwhile, the club confirmed it will have a team compete in Harold Matthews (under-16) competition side for the first time in 2013.